Splicers for motion picture films



March 7, 1961 s. A. MOQUIST 2,973,802

SPLICERS FOR MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed Aug. 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1961 s. A. MoQulsT 2,973,802

I SPLICERS FOR MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed Aug. 19, 1957 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 1:: 67- w r 00 Q I 74 7 r a INVEN TOR. \Sifl/YZE) fl/ foqw/ar United States Patent 2,973,802 SPLICERS FOR MOTION PICTURE FILMS Stanley A. Moquist, '5070 Steele St., Denver, Colo.

Filed Aug. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 679,031

4 Claims. (Cl. 154-421) This invention relates to a device for splicing motion picture films, and has for its principal object the provision of a highly efficient, easily operated film splicing device by means of which two sections of a motion picture film can be neatly, accurately and securely spliced together with a minimum of time and effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a filmsplicing device means by which the film emulsion at the splice can be quickly and easily removed to provide a perfect cementing surface and to provide a splice which will be substantially undetectable.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention,

' reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete improved film-splicing device ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, as it would appear with its top cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 3--3, Fig. 2, with the cover replaced;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detail, perspective view of a carriage block as used in the improved film-splicing device;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the carriage block, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail section through a milling head employed in the improved splicer, taken on the line 66, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an electric circuit diagram illustrating the electrical circuits employed in the improved splicing device.

The improved splicer is contained within and mounted upon an open-topped, rectangular housing 10. A cross member 11 is attached to or integrally formed with the housing and extends transversely across the top thereof. An inverted-cup-shaped cover 12 is fitted over the open top of the housing 10, preferably by means of a dovetailed joint 13, and is secured in place thereon by means of suitable attachment screws 14 threaded into the cross member 11.

A stationary, film-anchor plate 15 is fixedly mounted on the housing 10 by means of suitable attachment screws 16. The stationary plate 15 is provided with film-engaging studs 17 accurately spaced to engage in the sprocket holes of a section of conventional motion picture film when the latter is in place upon the plate 15. The section of film is held in place on the plate 15 by means of a first press plate 18 which is mounted on a i 19 by means of suitable attachment first swinging arm 7 I p plate 18 is provided with clearance screws 20. The press 2 holes 21 through which the studs 17 project when the plate 18 is in position on the plate 15.

The arm 19 is mounted on and projects from a sleeve 22 which is threaded upon a horizontal pivot shaft 23 which is locked in place between supporting ears 24, formed in the cover 12, by means of a suitable lock nut 25. In consequence of the threaded mounting of the sleeve 22, the press plate 18 will move to the right as it is swung downwardly, and to the left as it is swung upwardly, for reasons which will be later explained.

The extremity of a second section of film is received. upon a movable anchor plate 26 which is mounted on a. second swinging arm 27 by means of suitable attach-- ment screws 28. The movable anchor plate 26 is also: provided with film engaging studs 29 for engaging thesprocket holes of the extremity of the second section ofl film similarly to the studs 17.

The second swinging arm 27 is pivotally mounted upon:

a pivot shaft supported between two spaced-apart bearingsupporting ears 30 projecting upwardly from the cover- 12. The movable anchor plate 26 is provided at its left extremity with a sharpened shear edge 31 which, when; the plate is swung downwardly, passes in shearing rela-- tion with the right extremity of the stationary anchorplate 15 to shear the extremity from the first film section: as it lies upon the plate 15. The second film section is: maintained in place on the movable anchor plate 26 bymeans of a second press plate 32 which is provided with: clearance holes 33 for the studs 29. The second press: plate 32 is mounted on a third swinging arm 34 by means: of suitable attachment screws 35. The third swinging; arm 34 is also pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft ex-- tending between the ears 30 in combination with the; mounting of the second swinging arm 27.

A milling head 36 travels transversely of the cover 12 in a clearance slot 37. The milling head is provided. with a motor-driven, toothed, rotary, milling cutter 38 which, when the head moves transversely of the cover plate 12, travels across the sheared edge of the first film section while it is clamped on the stationary anchor plate 15 to remove the emulsion from the upper face thereof along the sheared edge.

Let us assume that it is desired to form a splice between two sections of motion picture film. The second section is placed upon the anchor plate 15, with its sprocket holes over the studs 17 and with its extremity projecting beyond the right edge of the plate. The press plate 18 is then lowered to clamp the film in place upon the anchor plate 15 andthe movableanchor plate 26 is lowered to cause the shearing edge 31 thereon to shear the projecting extremity with an accurate right- -angle cut. The second film section is then removed from the anchor plate 15 and is replaced by the first film section which is similarly clamped and sheared.

An electric switch 39 is now actuated to cause the. milling cutter 38 to rotate and to cause the milling head, 36 to travel transversely of the plate 15 so that the cut ter will accurately mill the emulsion from the first sec-- tion along the sheared edge thereof. The anchor plate 26 is now lowered into position and the second film section is placed thereon with its sheared extremity overlapping the milled extremity of the first film section and is the right edge of the anchor plate 15 to provide perfect pressure upon the splice. The plate 18 will move to the left as it is raised, due to the threaded shaft 23, to avoid).

Patented Mar. 7,- 1961*.

interference with the plate 32 and will move to the right as it is lowered to accurately fit against the plate 32.

One of the principal features of this invention relates to the manner in which the milling head is reciprocated across the cover 12, and the manner in which the milling cutter 38 is driven. The power for these operations is furnished from a conventional electric motor 40 suitably mounted on a platform plate 85 in the bottom of the housing 10. The motor receives electricity through an electrical cord 82 and drives an elongated spiral gear shaft 41 through the medium of a transmission belt 42 which is trained about a drive pulley 43 on the shaft of the motor 40 and about a driven pulley 44 on the spiral gear shaft 41. A suitable belt-engaging idler pulley 83 may be provided for maintaining the belt 40 properly tensioned.

The milling head 36 is supported on a supporting post 45 secured to and extending upwardly from the left extremity of a carriage block 46, which is slidably mounted on transversely extending, dovetailed track members 47 formed in or mounted in the bottom of the housing 10. The carriage block 46 is maintained in place on the track members 47 by means of a retaining plate 48 extending into the dovetails of the track members and secured to the block 46 by means of suitable attachment screws 49. The post 45 is secured to the carriage block 46 by means of suitable attachment screws 52.

The elongated spiral gear shaft 41 is mounted in any type of suitable hearings in the two sides of the housing and extends freely and rotatably through the carriage block 46. A stationary threaded rod 50 also extends between the two sides of the housing 10 in parallel rela tion to the spiral gear shaft 41. The threaded rod 50 also extends freely through the carriage block 46 and through spaced-apart thrust bearings 89 mountedtherein.

A countershaft 51 extends longitudinally of the carriage block 46 transversely of and above the shaft 41 and the rod 50, and is mounted in suitable anti-friction bearings 53 in the extremities of the carriage block. A spiral pinion 54 is fixedly mounted on the countershaft 51 in mesh with the teeth of the spiral gear shaft 41, and a worm pinion 55 is fixedly mounted on the countershaft 51 in mesh with a worm gear nut 88 threaded on the threads of the threaded rod 50. The thrust bearings 89 prevent relative sideward movement of the worm gear nut 88 in the block 46.

The left extremity of the countershaft 51 projects from the carriage block 46 and is provided with a drive belt pulley 56, about which, and upwardly from which, an endless drive belt 57 extends to a driven belt pulley 58 mounted on a milling cutter shaft 59 journalled in the milling head 36 and carrying the milling cutter 38.

Means are provided for adjusting the tension in the drive belt 57 by mounting the milling head 36 on a pivot pin 60 in the upper extremity of the post 45. A compression spring 61 constantly urges the head 36 upwardly to increase the tension in the belt 57, and a stop screw 62 is provided to limit the upward movement of the head and regulate the tension of the belt. The head 36 is preferably split, as shown at 63, about the bearings for the shaft 59, and this split can be clamped closed by means of suitable clamp screws 64 to prevent any lateral play in the cutter shaft 59.

It can be seen from the above that rotation of the spiral gear shaft 41 will cause its spiral teeth to act against the spiral teeth of the spiral pinion 54 to rotate the countershaft 51, and through it the milling cutter 38. It can also be seen that rotation of the shaft 51 will cause the worm pinion 55 to rotate the worm gear nut 88 to cause the latter to travel along the threads of the threaded rod 50 so as to move the carriage block 46 longitudinally of the shaft 41 and the of the housing 10.

A switch plate 65 is fixedly mountedin the hous ing rod 50 and transversely.

above the carriage block 46 in any desired manner, such as upon ledges 86, by means of mounting screws 90. A first stud 66 and a second stud 67 project upwardly from the carriage block 46 in spaced relation and through parallel slots 68 in the switch plate 65. The first stud 66 is for the purpose of reciprocating a slide plate 69 which is slidably mounted on the upper surface of the switch plate 65 between guide track members 70, and which is maintained in contact with the switch plate by means of suitable retaining flanges 71. The first stud 66 projects into an elongated control slot 72 in the slide plate 69, and by contacting the extremities of the control slot 72, it shifts the slide plate 69 transversely of the housing 10.

The slide plate is provided with an upwardly-extending switch-operating stud 73 positioned to contact and operate two press-button-operated switches of the Unimak" or Micro type which will be herein designated as Micro switches 74 and 75. The second stud 67, which projects upwardly from the carriage block 46, contacts a third similar micro-switch 84 to open an electric circuit at the latter.

It will be noted from the circuit diagram of Fig. 7 that the micro-switch 84 is bridged across the starting switch 39, and when in the normal at rest position of Fig. 2, the stud 67 maintains the switch 84 open. If the manual switch 39 is now closed, the motor 40 will start, causing the milling cutter 38 to rotate and causing the milling head 36 to travel across the slot 37 of the cover 12 until the stud 73 strikes the controls of the microswitches 74 and 75. These switches not simply as reversing switches to reverse the flow of current through the armature of the motor, causing it to reverse its direction, thus reversing the direction of travel of all the moving parts, and reversing the direction of travel of the milling head 36 so that it will move back to its starting position. When the starting position is reached, the stud 67 will again open the micro switch 84, stopping the entire movement.

The manual switch 39 is spring-urged to the open position and is released after the motor is started, for as soon as the stud 67 moves away from the micro-switch 84, the circuit of the motor will be maintained until the stud 67 returns to its starting position.

The shaft of the motor 40 is provided with a brake drum 76 against which one extremity of a brake lever 77 is constantly urged by a suitably placed spring, such as indicated at 78. The brake lever 77 is pivoted intermediate its extremities in any desired manner, such as by means of a pivot screw 79 on the mounting of the motor 40. The other extremity of the brake lever 77 is connected to an armature 80 of a solenoid 81.

The solenoid 81 is electrically bridged between the conductors supplying the motor 40 by means of suitable bridging conductors 87, so that whenever current is supplied to the motor 40, the solenoid 81 will be energized to release the braking lever 77 from the brake drum 76, and whenever the current is cut off, the solenoid will immediately release the brake lever to the action of its spring 78 to apply the braking extremity and prevent coasting of the mechanism.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired securedby Letters Patent is:

1. In a film splicing device having means for clamping the extremities of two motion picture film sections in overlapped relation, means for removing the emulsion from the overlapped portion of one section comprising: a guide track device; a carriage member arranged to slide along said guide track device; a rotary milling tool rotatably supported from said carriage so that as the latter is moved alon g said guide track device said tool will move across said overlapped portion to remove the emulsion therefrom; a motor; a first power transmission means arranged to rotate said milling tool; and a second power transmission means initiated by the rotation of said milling tool and acting to move said carriage member along said track device, said first power transmission means comprising; an elongated, rotatably supported spiral gear driven from said motor and extending through said carriage member parallel to said guide track device, said carriage member being free to move longitudinally of said elongated spiral gear, a second spiral gear rotatably mounted in said carriage member and connected with said milling too-1 and in mesh with said elongated spiral gear to transmit rotation from said spiral gear to said milling tool at all positions of said carriage along said track device; said second power transmission device comprising: a fixed threaded rod extending through said carriage member parallel to said elongated spiral gear; a rotatable nut member threaded on said rod within and in contact with said carriage member; and means for rotating said nut in consequence of the rotation of said milling tool, so that said nut will be rotated simultaneously with said milling tool to impart longitudinal movement to said carriage member along said track device during the rotation of said milling tool.

2. A film splicing device comprising: a housing; a cover closing the top of said housing; a film anchor platemounted on said cover; a press plate hingedly mounted on said cover and positioned to clamp a section of motion picture film on said anchor plate; means for shearing the extremity of said film section; a track device in said housing extending transversely of the axis of said film sections; an elongated spiral gear rotatably mounted in said housing; a threaded rod fixedly mounted in said housing, said elongated spiral gear and said threaded rod extending in parallel relation to said track device; an electric motor in said housing; means for transmitting rotation from said motor to said elongated spiral gear; a carriage member movably mounted on said track device through which 7 said elongated spiral gear and said rod extend; a rotary milling tool supported from said carriage member; means in said carriage member transmitting rotation from said elongated spiral gear to said milling tool; and means in said carriage member causing the latter to travel along said rod, in consequence of the rotation of said elongated spiral gear, to cause said milling tool to rotate across the extremity of said film section to remove the emulsion therefrom.

3. A film splicing device as described in claim 2, in which the means transmitting rotation from said elongated spiral gear to said milling tool comprises: a countershaft rotatably mounted in said carriage member at right angles to said elongated spiral gear; a second spiral gear on said 'countershaft in mesh with said elongated spiral gear; and means for transmitting rotation from said countershaft to said milling tool.

4. A film splicing device as described in claim 3 in which the means for transmitting rotation from said countershaft to said milling tool comprises a belt transmission device interposed between said countershaf-t and said milling tool and in which the means for causing the carriage member to travel along the threaded rod comprises a nut member threaded upon said rod within said carriage member and provided with worm teeth and a worm gear on said countershaft for rotating said not member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,383 Goldberg Feb. 11, 1941 2,258,356 Goldberg Oct. 7, 1941 2,382,898 Nagin Aug. 14, 1945 2,563,301 Arms et al. Aug. 7, 1951 in mesh with said teeth 

